Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve © Sam Demers
As Ontarians head to the polls on February 27, 2025 it’s extra essential than ever to vote. Convey a relative, pal, neighbour, colleague and make it an occasion.
Sadly, in the course of the 2022 provincial election solely 43% of eligible Ontarians voted, which was the bottom voter turnout in Ontario’s electoral historical past. There are definitely many causes for low voter turnout, however the challenges Ontario faces are too essential to not have interaction with the democratic course of. The provincial authorities performs a major position in our daily lives, from land use planning, pure useful resource administration, well being care, schooling, transportation and past.
The right way to Vote
If you’re on the voting register, you’ll obtain a voter data card within the mail from February 17 to 22. Don’t fear if you don’t obtain a voter data card, you may nonetheless vote!
All you could do is carry a legitimate piece of identification displaying each your identify and residential tackle. In the event you don’t obtain a voter data card, it’s also possible to discover out the place to vote by coming into your postal code on Elections Ontario’s voter data service.
What the Main Events are Saying About Nature Conservation
Conservation points haven’t been distinguished this election marketing campaign. As of February twentieth, solely the Inexperienced Get together of Ontario had launched a full platform. Ontario Nature despatched a letter to the 4 main social gathering leaders with our election priorities, however at time of publishing we’ve solely obtained an in depth response from the Inexperienced Get together of Ontario and a word from the Liberal Get together of Ontario stating that “nature is a core a part of [their] surroundings plan”. Each the Liberal Get together and the New Democratic Get together launched their social gathering platforms on February 21, whereas the Progressive Conservatives launched theirs on February 24.
There have been transient mentions of the surroundings within the two leaders’ debates, that are lined in by The Narwhal.
The next report card identifies what the foremost events have stated relating to Ontario Nature’s election priorities, both in direct response to our joint letter, in responses obtained to the Inexperienced Prosperity group’s questionnaire, or via different bulletins:
| Election Precedence | Progressive Conservative Get together | New Democratic Get together | Liberal Get together | Inexperienced Get together |
| Shield 30% of lands and waters by 2030 | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | ✔ | ✔ |
| Restore and improve protections for Ontario’s species in danger | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | ✔ |
| Allow Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCA)s and different Indigenous-led conservation | Unclear / No Response | ✔ | Unclear / No Response | ✔ |
| Improve local weather adaptation funding to nature-based options | Unclear / No Response | ~ | Unclear / No Response | ✔ |
| Shield giant intact forest areas | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response |
| Restore the powers of the Conservation Authorities | Unclear / No Response | ✔ | ~ | ✔ |
| Reverse modifications to the Planning Act that encourage sprawl and weaken protections for pure heritage | Unclear / No Response | ~ | ~ | ✔ |
| Cancel Freeway 413 and Bradford Bypass | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | Unclear / No Response | ✔ |
| Reverse modifications that restrict protections of all wetlands | Unclear / No Response | ~ | Unclear / No Response | ✔ |
| Shield, strengthen and develop the Greenbelt | Unclear / No Response | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Legend
- ✔ Signifies the social gathering commits to the election precedence
- ~ Signifies the social gathering partially commits to the election precedence
- Unclear / No Response Signifies the social gathering has not addressed the difficulty or supplied a response
Whenever you vote, please vote for nature!
You possibly can go to our election webpage to search out extra assets.
Tony joined Ontario Nature in 2024. He holds a MES from York College, the place he centered on biodiversity coverage in Ontario, and a B.A from Trent College with a joint main in Environmental Research and Political Research. Tony has over 10 years {of professional} expertise with numerous authorities departments and businesses in Ontario and the Northwest Territories. He has a powerful background in environmental coverage, strategic planning, and land use and watershed planning on the provincial and municipal stage. Exterior of Ontario Nature, Tony enjoys biking, studying, cooking, and exploring new locations.
